Outlook 2010: penetrating the $100k+ market is the top concern

by Sharon Graham. Filed under: $100k+ Job Seekers, Career Practitioners.

The results of OUTLOOK 2010: Competitive Career Intelligence for Six-Figure Canadians, Graham Management Group’s groundbreaking survey conducted in January are in. In this challenging market, we found that many professionals are struggling. If you are concerned about your career development, it might be helpful to know that you are not alone.

The survey provides current insight into the labour market. Canadian executives, directors, managers, and other six-figure professionals provided in-depth information about their career strategies. Here are some of statistics that might interest you:

29.8% of our survey participants indicated that they are ready for a change, but they don’t know where to begin.

36.9% did not feel that they know how to discuss and address career issues with prospective employers.

45.1% did not feel clear about their short-term and long-term career direction and goals.

49.8% were not sure that their resume, portfolio, and marketing tools represent them well enough to do the job.

69.4% felt that they did not have strong connections and were not known for their specific expertise.

When asked, “What are the obstacles to achieving your career goals in 2010 and beyond?” the professionals surveyed were surprisingly candid. The top challenges and barriers to their career development included:

The current economic situation across the nation.
An overall discomfort in six-figure job search strategy, networking, and cold calling.
Age discrimination against highly qualified professionals competing with younger candidates.
Lack of educational background and academic credentials.
Not enough time available to dedicate to career development strategies.

Please let us know your thoughts on these preliminary results by commenting here.

The full survey results will be coming out in the Fall, 2010, but an advance copy of the summary and analysis report is available to all survey participants, GMG clients, and media in February. E-mail info@GrahamManagement.com

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